Friday, December 23, 2011

Trimming A Tree With Friends Realized

Deb: Thanks, blogees, one and all, for joining in the festive
trimming of the tree and wreath that we proposed some weeks ago. Here it is in
all its glory in our respective homes. It’s lovely sharing this season with you
all.

Deb's Wish Tree

Barbara's Welcome Wish Wreath

Barbara: Thank you all sooooo much for sending so many lovely wishes.
I loved them when you sent them, and then again when I cut them out, and then
again when I hung them. Here are all your wonderful words:

"Peace" and
goodwill to all!

***

Give someone the gift of
your undivided attention.

***

Gratitude.

***

"YOU PAINT YOUR OWN
FUTURE.....SO PAINT IT THE WAY YOU WOULD WANT IT TO BE....I'VE PAINTED YOU GUYS
IN MINE......I'LL SEE YOU THEN..!!! LOADS OF LOVE...

***

Am Ende des Jahres

zurück blicken auf den Weg,

der hinter einem liegt.

Sich erinnern, inne halten.

Aufatmen. Durchatmen.

Am Ende des Jahres

Hoffnung schöpfen.

Einen Neuanfang wagen.

Sich freuen, auf das was
kommt.

Sich leiten lassen,

einem Stern folgen.

Am Ende des Jahres

an einem Ziel angekommen
sein.

Stolz sein,

etwas geschafft zu haben.

Hindernisse überwinden.

Nicht aufgeben.

Am Ende des Jahres

einem Wunder begegnen.

Keine Angst spüren.

Sich überraschen lassen.

Staunen, glauben.

Vertrauen haben.

Am Ende des Jahres

einfach Mensch sein.

***

English: At the end of the
year

At the end of the year

look back at the road

that lies behind you.

Remember, pause.

Breathe. Breathe deeply.

***

At the end of the year

gather hope.

Start anew.

Look forward to what will
happen.

Be guided by someone,

follow a star.

***

At the end of the year

reach a goal.

Be proud

of something you achieved.

Overcome obstacles.

Never give up.

***

At the end of the year

come across a miracle.

Don't be afraid.

Be surprised.

Be astonished, believe.

Have faith.

***

At the end of the year

simply be human.

***

Joy and happiness

***

The greatest gift is a
friendship you never knew you'd have.

***

"In the same way, let
your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 NRS

***

Friends come from strange
places and I found both of you on Facebook and I am sure glad I did. I love you
both without ever meeting you, yet! But that will happen.

***

From Norway with love: GOD
JUL OG GODT NYTTÅR.

***

Thank you so much for your
blog! It has helped me through many troubled times. Thank you both for thinking
of us despite never knowing us before!

***

"You'll see it's all a
show/Keep 'em laughing as you go/Just remember that the last laugh is on
you." - E. Idle.

***

"What has happened, has
happened. It's where we go from here is what counts." - author unknown

***

"There are many ways to
skin a chicken." - me

***

"It's not enough to
bash in heads/You've got to bash in minds." - Captain Hammer.

There is support given and
taken, sometimes without anyone ever knowing.

There is no judgment.

There is no negative
thinking.

The drive is not as lonely.

The future does not look as
hopeless.

In the black of life, there
was some light.

And all you did was make
people laugh.

***

If love is the treasure,
laughter is the key.

***

Never give up on your
dreams!

Merry Christmas.

***

This post isn’t for the tree
or wreath, just to simply express my gratitude. I have been reading this blog
for a short time now, after discovering it via Colin’s twitter, and finally got
the courage to actually post a reply. I wanted you guys to know just how much
your blog means. By sharing what you all are going through somehow helps me
deal with the depression and other things I have going on in my life. It is
hard to explain, but posting a reply and talking to someone REALLY helps. It is
easier to talk to people online rather than in person for me. Regardless of
whether or not anyone ever reads this, it is helping me. Even just having
something to look at and keep up with everyday helps!

So thank you so much!! You will
never know how something so small can help so much!

***

"Guess why I smile a
lot. Uh, 'cause it's worth it.

***

"So I'll say Merry
Christmas

I'll wish peace to you

I'll hope for the hopeless,
your dreams come true.

And I'll pray for the
laughter

I'll sing through the tears

I'll say Merry Christmas for
all the world to hear."

***

"All you need is
love."

***

"Hang in there."

***

"Peace and love to
all"

***

"Stay shiny"

***

In Western lands beneath the
sun

the flowers may rise in
spring

the trees may bud

the waters run

the merry finches sing

Or there may be this
cloudless night

and swaying beeches bare

the Elven stars as jewles
bright

amid their dancing hair

Though here at journeys end
I lie

in darkness buried deep

beyond all towers strong and
high

beyond all mountains steep

Above all Shadows rides the
sun

and stars forever dwell

I will not say the day is
done

nor bid the stars farewell

***

Love from Norway, no signs
of snow :(

***

"You can pour your soul
out singing a song you believe in that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang.
Sing it anyway!"

***

Life is a banquet, and most
poor suckers are starving to death.

***

"Dreaming is free.

***

“Fall, then figure out what to do on the way down.”

***

"Let there be so much
joy and love in you this Christmas it spills out to those around you!"

***

Peace, love and happiness!

***

The Best of Times Is Now.

What's left of Summer

But a faded rose?

The best of times is now.

As for tomorrow,

Well, who knows? Who knows?
Who knows?

So hold this moment fast,

And live and love

As hard as you know how.

And make this moment last

Because the best of times is
now,

Is now, is now.

Now, not some forgotten
yesterday.

Now, tomorrow is too far
away.

So hold this moment fast,

And live and love

As hard as you know how.

And make this moment last,

Because the best of times is
now,

Is now, is now.

***

Listen! I hear bells!

Here come all the shiny
gifts!

***

You sleigh me, Santa.

***

Dashing through the snow.

Santa is coming, my dear.

Are three ho's enough?

***

It's snowing outside.

I need something to keep
warm.

Hugh Jackman...Naked.

Favorite Christmas?

Fireplace burning, Nat King Cole,

Hugh Jackman...Naked.

I don't want visions.

No Sugarplum fairies,
thanks.

Hugh Jackman...Naked.

Hey Santa Baby,

I want one thing only please

Hugh Jackman...Naked.

The halls are all decked,

The fireplace is brightly
lit,

WHERE the HELL is HUGH??!!

***

"Don't ask
yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then
go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -
Howard Thurman

AWWW youse guys- the Jackie Lawsen card mde me all farklempt- sweet. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday (I will be working- hospitals don't close) And a healthy Happy New Year with side orders of happiness and success!Nasdrovia!L'Chaim!

What a beautiful post. You put such love and care in your tree and wreath, they are both gorgeous and they touch my heart that you would even think of doing such a a lovely thing and then sharing it with us all. We are all sharing Christmas together!!!! Have a wonderful Christmas with your families and loved ones Barb and Deb and thank you for sharing your Christmas, thoughts, books, recipes, memories with all of us. Peace on earth, goodwill towards all. xo

Barb and Deb:I get warm fuzzy feelings when I see how the tree and wreath turned out. Thank you both for bringing us all together, at your home and on here.Thank you so much for such a beautiful little card. A simple message can mean so much.

Barb, Deb, thank you so much for giving me the honour of being a participant in your Holiday celebrations. Just seeing the pictures of your tree and wreath made me smile as I waited for relatives to arrive at the airport today.

I just viewed the rest of the post, and Deb, I love that poem! It was fantastic! :)

The card made me smile - it reminds me of the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. Very peaceful.

Remember the earlier post about Christmas kindnesses? Since 4:00 yesterday afternoon, I have been living in the midst of a magical swirl of Christmas kindness.

Yesterday, I came in to work the evening shift. It was nuts! One of the other evening workers met me as I entered and explained that they'd just marked Christmas down 75%. Waaaay back in October when the ornaments came in, there was a teal, glass peacock ornament that completely mesmerized me! But, it was expensive and impractical. Each time it was marked down, more of them sold. But, even with each discount, it was still expensive and impractical. I'd mention to P or A or T, "If there's one left when they go on sale really cheap, I'll get it if I have enough change in the bottom of my purse." When I had been at work on Wed., there was only 1 left. So, I had kind of let go of the idea. (I didn't want it as a Christmas ornament. I thought it would look pretty hanging on my bedroom wall year round.) When A told me about the sale, I started stepping in that direction saying, "I wonder if my peacock is stil..." And, before I could even finish, she said, "It's gone. The sale started this afternoon." So, I let it go. No biggie, right? Turns out, A was in on the plot. P had been working that row when the sale started. She grabbed the last peacock and hid it back for me. A few hours into last night's shift, she pulled it out from under a counter and handed it to me. I got it for pocket change! What a funny surprise!

Earlier this morning when I got to work, I was greeted by a huge surprise. But, that's one's private. I'm not going to discuss that one. And, then, a few minutes ago, when I rushed to Kroger on my lunch break with a shopping list of mine and for some folks at work, I bumped into someone else who did me a surprising Christmas kindness spontaneously. I told her, "Oh! You don't have to do that!" And, she said, "God just now told me to do it. Please don't deny me this blessing." So, I said, "OK, but can I share it with someone at work who's in a crisis?" And, she said, "Maybe that's why God told me to do this."

Today's surprising kindnesses have been of such wonder, abundance, and overwhelming beauty that I am able to now spend my afternoon passing it along. I get to help make magic happen for the next few days --- sharing the Christmas kindnesses. It's going to be so much fun! :D

My Christmas eve turned out better than I ever hoped it could be. Almost all of the gals in my therapy group are on Facebook. We friended each other and had a mini Christmas love-giving party. Whether in type or in front of you, friends are there.

Rigel, how wonderful. Two lovely tales of kindness towards a most deserving recipient. Dawn sounds like you had a very special Christmas eve. Both you and Rigel have made mine that much more special by sharing them with me! Merry Christmas everyone, and in my part of the world, 14 minutes away.

just leaving a note to say i wish that everyone here , Deb , Barbara and your families , along with all my fellow comment makers had a really good Christmas . i love your tree and wreath as well , the messages on it were brilliant . who wrote the best time is now and all you do is make people laugh ? i would love to print them out if i may . also your card was really beutiful as well . Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh (thats a prosperous new year to you all in irish and it is pronouced aw vleen fwei vasha dee ubh !)Linda

Read the rest of these comments over Christmas, but never had a chance to sit and comment again until now. But THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! I did have a lovely, amazing time (also cooked a lot and did so many dishes, I'm still seeing china)

Dawn, can't tell you how much your Christmas celebration touched me. And Rigel too. Loved how your day turned out! Linda, thanks for adding another wish to our list. and of course print it out!! That's what it's for!! And thanks for the phonetic pronunciation -- that's some lotta mouthful!